SEASON SNAPSHOT

2022 Schedule

Aug. 26 — vs. Muncy

Sept. 2 — at Hamburg

Sept. 9 — vs.Mount Carmel

Sept. 16 — at Hughesville

Sept. 23 — vs. Northwest

Sept. 30 — vs. Bloomsburg

Oct. 7 — at Midd-West

Oct. 14 — at Montgomery

Oct. 21 — at Mifflinburg

Oct. 28 — vs.Milton increasing from last year,” Warrior Run coach Derrick Zechman said. “A lot of people are talking about the team, from family members and fans. They saw a difference last year and we got some wins and we got some momentum.”

Warrior Run took that momentum into the offseason and Zechman said he saw progress being made there. A big commitment was put forth as Warrior Run now understands what its potential is. Changing the culture is never easy, but beating previously undefeated Northwest at midseason started reversing it, as did putting up some big numbers and having wide receiver Sam Hall earn all-state honors.

Warrior Run had ability last year, but the the belief may have been lacking. That is not the case now and a hungry team is eager to turn the rest of District 4 into believers.

“Winning is contagious. We had everything clicking against Northwest and it kind of built from there,” Zechman said. “The kids had been beat down for a while and they got a taste of the playoffs and competed and fought in that game. We had some bright spots and that gave us momentum going into the season.”

In terms of the grades many players are in, Warrior Run remains young. But a stark contrast between this year and last is that Warrior Run has so much experience. That includes the coaching staff. Zechman became a coach for the first time a year ago, so there was a lot of learning on the fly for everyone in the program.

Now, Warrior Run is ahead of the game in terms of development. The players understand the system, the coaches understand their players strengths well and everyone is on the same page. Several challenges await but Warrior Run feels light years ahead of where it was last year and that provides a big boost.

“Our first few games are against some top-ranked programs, but we’re in a better situation going into this year with one year under our belts,” Zechman said. “It was tough last year, trying to get accustomed to everything. There’s a sense of continuity andwe’reexcitedaboutthat.”

WarriorRunalsoisexcited aboutalltheplayersreturning.In additiontoeverystarterreturning,IsaacSherman,aplayerwho wasprojectedtostartbeforesufferingapreseasoninjurylast summer,alsoisback.QuarterbackRyanNewtonisathree-year starterwhomadearunat2,000 yardslastseasonandhassome outstandingweaponsathisdisposal.Halltopped1,000yardsas asophomoreandCarterMarr alsohadabigseason.EliButler andTylerUlricharealsoplayers whocouldbepoisedforquality seasons.

TheDefendersarehopingto improvetheirrunninggameand havesomegoodprospectsthere withplayerslikeColbyLeBarron, StoneAllison,ThomasRoyles,Eli ButlerandRomanPierceallhavingexperience.WarriorRunhas nothadarusherreach200yards inthelasttwoseasons,butthe experiencegainedlastseason couldhelpstopthatstreak.

Still,forWarriorRuntotake thenextstepforward,itwillneed improvementupfront.TheDefenderssawthataslastseason continuedandarehopingtopick upwheretheyleftoff.Evan Doreskyistheonlystarterlost fromthatunitasPeytonSnyder, ColeShupp,KalebNicholas,ConnorParkerandAustinBrysonall rotatedinthroughouttheseason. ShermanandIsaiahBetzcould providealiftattightendaswell, helpingasbothblockersandreceivers.

“Morelinemenhavecomeout andareworkinghard,”Zechman said.“Weneedtoruntheballbetterandbemorephysicalonoffenseanddefenseforsure.”

Mostofthoseplayersalongthe offensivelinewilltryandreach

2022 RESULTS (3-8)

Warrior Run 6, Muncy 56

Warrior Run 21, Hamburg 75

Warrior Run 7, Mount Carmel 55

Warrior Run 6, Hughesville 34

Warrior RUn 33, Northwest 19

Warrior RUn 14, Bloomsburg 28

Warrior Run 27, Midd-West 7

Warrior Run 41, Montgomery 6

Warrior Run 7, Mifflinburg 35

Warrior Run 7, Milton 63

District 4 Class AAA Quarterfinals

Warrior Run 13, Mifflinburg 49 thosegoalsdefensivelyaswell. Improvementatstoppingtherun willgoalongwayingivingapotentiallydangerousoffensemore scoringopportunities.Betzisa three-yearstarterwhohelps sparkthedefensivelineand LeBarronshinedasafreshman linebacker.Roylesisafour-year contributoratlinebackerandUlrichwasamongtheteam’sleadingtacklersinthesecondary. PierceandShermangiveWarrior Runsomeflexibilitywithboth beingabletoplaylinebackeroras defensivebacks.Marrplayedwell atcornerbackaftermovingthere lastyearandDominickShuey providessomegooddepth.

WarriorRunwillimmediately betestedagainsttwo-timedefendingNTL-IIchampionMuncy initsopener.Muncyhaswonthe lasttwoopenersagainstitbig, butWarriorRunhasadifferent mentalitynow.Timewilltellhow muchthattranslatesintowins buttheDefendersfeelalotdifferententeringthiscampaign.

“Wehavethenewfieldand newfieldhouseandthatgotthe excitementupandwinningsome gamescertainlyhelps,”Zechman said.“We’retakingbabysteps, butwe’regoingintherightdirection.”

••••••• 2022 LEADERS •••••••

PASSERATCMINYDSTD

Ryan Newton2149320190815

RUSHERATYDSTD

Colby LeBarron701893

Samuel Hall491522

Thomas Royles421391

Stone Allison361232

Eli Butler16650

RECEIVERRECYDSTD

Samuel Hall5211368

Carter Marr276416

Tyler Ulrich7971

Stone Allison4781

2022 Football P Lay Ers To Watch

Isaiah Betz, DL/TE After closing his freshman season in a big way, Betz picked up where he left off last year and helped anchor Warrior Runʼs defensive line. The junior end led the team with three sacks and 12 tackles for loss, while averaging 5.7 tackles per game. A three-year starter, Betz produced two tackles for a loss three times, including four in victories against Midd-West and Montgomey when the defense allowed just 13 combined points. Betz has good speed off the edge and has 6 1/2 sacks in his first two seasons. He also made eight tackles in the district quarterfinals against Mifflinburg. Betz came on strong down the stretch as a freshman and his evolution as a player followed the trajectory of several of his teammates who also started as freshmen.

Sam Hall, WR/RB/LB Speaking of weapons, few were more explosive in this area than Hall was last year. In fact, no other area sophomore ever produced receiving numbers like Hall did. In his first season playing wide receiver full time, Hall caught 52 passes for 1,136 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the area with 47 regular season receptions and reached 1,000 yards before the playoffs started. Hall can turn short catches into long touchdowns and averaged 21.9 yards per catch while topping 100 yards six times and 80 yards eight times. Hall ravaged Northwest for 222 yards and also was among the teamʼs leading rushers, producing 152 yards and two touchdowns. Hallʼs 1,136 yards were the second highest produced in Warrior Run program history.

Carter Marr, WR/DB If opponents choose to double team Hall, Marr can make them pay. The senior receiver also enjoyed a big season a year ago and made massive strides during a breakout season. Marr caught 27 passes for 641 yards and six touchdowns. He also averaged an impressive 23.7 yards per catch and twice topped 100 yards with Warrior Run winning both games. Marr produced 265 yards and three touchdowns in those wins and caught multiple passes in eight of Warrior Runʼs last nine games. He has 38 catches over the last two seasons and is closing in on 1,000 career yards. Marr also helps provide stability in the secondary. He made 41 tackles last season and also broke up eight passes.

Ryan Newton, QB/DB Newton is the player feeding passes to both Hall and Marr. Like those two, he has grown better each season and enjoyed a big junior campaign, nearly reaching 2,000 yards. Newton really took off during the final seven weeks and finished his season throwing for 1,909 yards and 15 touchdowns. The 6-foot-4 senior has a big arm and went over 3,000 career yards last season as he topped 1,000 yards for a second straight time. Newton was as dialed in as any area quarterback during one four week stretch last season, topping 200 yards each time. He threw for a District 4-high 401 yards and four touchdowns in a season-changing win against Northwest before producing at least 219 yards in each of the next three games.